Pronunciations (4)
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/ˈbækˌbəʊn/
Pronunciation notes
- UK
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/ˈbækˌboʊn/
Pronunciation notes
- US
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ˈbækˌbəʊn
Pronunciation notes
- GB
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ˈbækˌboʊn
Pronunciation notes
- US
Noun
The series of vertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord, and runs down the middle of the back in vertebrate animals.
Usage- Countable
Any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure.
Usage- Countable
- Figurative
- Examples
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Before automobiles, railroads were a backbone of commerce.
More examples (4)
Undoubtedly it can be said that the humble 0-6-0 has been the backbone for general service, or general utility on British railways right from their earliest days, and is likely to remain so.
With little regular employment available in East Kent the backbone of the Kent Coast passenger traffic is therefore the commuters, the not inconsiderable numbers of people who travel each day to their work in Faversham, Sittingbourne, the Medway Towns and most of all, London.
East [Street] and West Street form a single thoroughfare running as a backbone through the village, flanked by neat, painted cottages of predominantly 18th-century brick.
The San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) and other community-based organizations that "provide backbone and leadership" in AIDS services are "reeling under the impact of growing case loads," said Pat Christen, SFAF's new director.
The backbone of our research is an extensive corpus of contemporary spoken Esperanto.
More examples (1)
When operating on customer MAC (C-MAC) and service MAC (S-MAC) addresses, PBB uses a new backbone MAC (B-MAC) address. The B-MAC address is added at the edge of the PBB network, that is administered by a carrier VPN or a carrier-of-carriers VPN.
Courage, fortitude, or strength.
Usage- Figurative
- Uncountable
- Examples
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He would make a good manager, if he had a little more backbone.
More examples (1)
His appearance was certainly that of a hairdresser's dummy; but in the great demoralization of the land he kept up his appearance. That's backbone. His starched collars and got-up shirt-fronts were achievements of character. He had been out nearly three years; and, later, I could not help asking him how he managed to sport such linen.
[Indiana:] I hate snakes, Jock! I hate 'em! [Jock:] Come on! Show a little backbone, will ya!
Noun
a central cohesive source of support and stability
- Broader terms
- Examples
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faith is his anchor
the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money
More examples (1)
he is the linchpin of this firm
fortitude and determination
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he didn't have the guts to try it
the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the fall broke his back
the part of a book's cover that encloses the inner side of the book's pages and that faces outward when the book is shelved
- Synonyms
- Examples
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the title and author were printed on the spine of the book
the part of a network that connects other networks together
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the backbone is the part of a communication network that carries the heaviest traffic